Ortho sleeper



April 2, 1957 B. L. zlNNAMoN ORTHO SLEEPER Filed Nov. 25, 1955 NVENTOR.

-Fg.5 By

United States Patent O ORTHO SLEEPER Burton L. Zinnamon, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,936

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-80) My present invention relates to correction devices for minor orthopedic deformities in babies such as:

External rotation of feet and legs caused by:

(a) Relaxed capsule of hip joint (b) Sleeping on Vface (or back) with feet and legs held continuously in position of external rotation (c) Stretching and/or shortening of muscles due to the above positions Internal rotation of feet and legs caused by:

(a) Sleeping on face (or back) with feet and legs held continuously in position of internal rotation (b) Stretching and/or shortening of muscles due to the above positions Mild degrees of internal or lateral deviation of forefeet and toes due to continuous foot pressure from above positions Mild degrees of tibial torsion (abnormal rotation of tibia) Relief of the above deformities can usually be obtained simply by maintaining the childs feet and legs in a position opposite to the deformity which is present. This can be accomplished by the use of the spreaders and plastic inserts.

Referring more to the drawing,

Figure l is a plan view of the bottom of a pair of shoes, or the bottom of leg pieces of a sleeping jacket showing braces from one side to another.

Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, except the braces are reversed. This brings the heel piece outward and the toe piece inward as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section taken through the shoe.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section of the toe of the shoe.

Figure 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of the sock portion of the garment with the plastic member mounted inside the double sock.

Figure 6 shows straps that are preferably metal and quite rigid. They are provided with swivel members which securely clamp them to the bottom layer 21 of the sock 9. The straps are numbered 10 and 15. A stifener piece inside the sock is indicated at and is loose in the upper portion of the sock. The sock itself comprises any crocheted type of sock or soft material similar to any conventional sock, not a part which comes in contact with any of the esh of the child, but has a patch-like outer surface which produces a pocket-like portion on the bottom of the sock. The entrance to this is in the rear heel portion so that one of the plastic slipper-like members, having no upper, just a lower edge can be slipped down inside this pocket-like structure and held there by a snap fastener 17. The whole shoe is the same material as far as the casing goes, but this con- 2,787,263 Patented Apr. 2, 1957 fice struction leaves a pocket in the bottom of the foot portion, and within this pocket is inserted a plastic-like tray, something like a moccasin, and is free to move in the pocket and can be removed when the garment is washed. The plastic-like member is indicated by the arrow 40, the outline of which having `an upstanding back portion 16. When the fasteners that hold the fastener strips 10 and 15 which fasten the ends of the sock shown in Figures 1 and 2, are released, the straps and the plastic members may be slid out of the pocket-like holder and placed in a fresh sock.

The clearance is not great enough to have the plastic member come out of the pocket when it is in use, and nothing will interfere with the stitching that holds the plastic pocket in its place to keep the feet from sliding out in the proportionate angles which may be the reverse in either case. I have fastened a stiff brace member between the toe and heel member which branches :across the other side when a pair of shoes are set to keep the toes headed in, or headed out, whichever may be the case. These straps are interchangeable and slip on and off snap fasteners 20. It is understood that the nature of the sock part of the garment is double and the plastic member is slidable within the pocket portion of the garment.

When desired to remove the pocket member, as in washing or cleaning the garment, it is only necessary to lift the snap fastener 17 and slide the plastic cup pieces out of the pocket of the garment, and slip in a new one that is clean, and only a few minutes time is needed. These portions of the braces are altogether determined according to the deformity the child might have. In one case the child may have feet Where the toes point inward, or outward, and the treatment can be used with the same device by reversing the braces.

Having disclosed my invention, what l now claim as new is:

1. A sleeping garment for minor children with orthopedic deformities, the `combination of a union suit type of garment with a foot insert member, the said garment having foot portions of double construction of a pocketlike shape with an opening on the heel portion closed by an elongated upstanding flap, a foot-holding slipper member located in the pocket-like portion of said garment, said slipper having side edges rolled upwardly and terminated at the heel portions with a high portion extending to the upper heel portion of said garment upstanding tiap, parallel positioning members removably connecting the toe and heel portions of the underside of said pocketlike garment portions.

2. The combination of a slipper and sleeping garment for minor children having orthopedic deformities of their feet, said slipper curved upward on the side edges terminating in a high converging end above the heel portion, a double sole pocket located in the foot portions of said garment to receive said slipper having a slipper entrance at the heel portion of said garment with an upwardly extending ap covering and holding said slipper in said garment, parallel spacing members removably attached to the outside of the foot portions of said garment holding said slipper members to any desired angle to each other, as may be desired.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,483 Arnold Oct. 13, 1896 1,036,999 Hale Aug. 27, 1912 1,637,565 Gordon Aug. 2, 1927 2,482,646 Brachman et al. Sept. 20, 1949 

